Monday, November 12, 2012

Horst P. Horst

Horst Paul Albert Bohrmann (August 19, 1906 - November 18, 1999), later known as Horst P. Horst, is one of the photographers who has really left a mark in the history of photography. The first pictures that carried his credit line appeared in the December issue of French Vogue in 1931. And from that year his career was to continue for sixty years.

Horst P. Horst. Photo: Stathis Orphanos

Through the years Horst's photos became known for their elegance, style and rarified glamour, and his real breakthrough as a published fashion photographer was when he started working with British Vogue. He also took pictures of a long line of celebrities, including Bette Davis, Cole Porter, Elsa Schiaparelli, Loretta Young, Ian Fleming and many, many more. During the 1980's he was commissioned to take nine photos for the magazine Life. They appeared in the February issue of that year, and became the magazine's most popular that year, selling 1.5 million copies

Mainbocher Corset, 1939

In 1990 Madonna used one of Horst's iconic photos (the one above) as inspiration in her video for the single Vouge, where she pays homage to classic fashion photography. The ones of you who has seen the video probably remembers the clip of Madonna posing in a partially tied corset, very reminiscent of this picture. 

Here follows a few more photos of the great Horst P. Horst!

Lisa as V.O.G.U.E , 1940


Round the Clock I, 1987


Mrs Henry Middleton Former Sandra Payson, 1949


Reboux hat, Pauline de Rothschild, 1950


The Gibson Girls, Vogue, 1948


Natasha Wilson (The Princess Natasha Paley), 1935


Gene Tierney, 1940


Lisa, Hands with Vase and Flowers, 1941


Electric Beauty, 1939


Lisa with Harp, 1939


Fur, pearls and diamonds, 1940


Fashion - Alix dress Model: Zelensky, 1936


Mainbocher dress, 1936


Ginger Rogers, 1936


Marlene Dietrich, 1942


Black Corset, 1948


Coco Chanel (Reclining), 1937


Bette Davis - series


Chanel Beauty, 1987


Odalisque I, 1943


Odalisque 2, 1943


Lisa with Money Plant, 1939


Carmen Face Massage, 1946


All photos (except the topmost) were taken from http://www.horstphorst.com/index.php































4 comments:

  1. He was a spectacular photographer, my favourite has always been the 'Lisa with money plant'...love how she's behind the sheer drape and seen, yet so mysterious. Utter beauty. His photos had that mysterious nature that I enjoy, but don't see so much these days...sometimes, but not always. I hope your weekend was bliss doll & your week will be also :) Xxx

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  2. These photos are so awesome Miss Meadows, it's hard to believe that somebody from so long ago can create such erotic and awesome pieces, I love all the Vogue ones in particular, a career of 6 decades is actually incredible as well, anybody to last that long has a lot of talent as Horst P. Horst undeniably has from these photos.

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  3. I love his photography! One of the greatest photographes. Beautiful post, thank you!

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